High-angle ordnance



A. T. nAwsoN AND a. T. BUCKHAM.

HIGH ANGLE ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1921.

1 23,404. Patented July 18, 1922..

names ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AIN'D GEORGE THOIVLAS BUCKHATM, OF WESTMINSTER i. LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSlG-NORS TO VJLCKERS LilvIITED, OF V ESTIVIINSTER, LON

non, ENGLAND.

Application filed October 26, 1921.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR TREVOR DAwsoN and Gnoncn THOMAS BUQKHAM, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vickers House, Broadway, West minster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to High-Angle Ordnance, i'or whirh we filed application in England on August 9, 1920, No. 23,340, and of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to high angle ordnance in which. in order to reduce as far as possible the height of the gun trunnions from the base of the mounting, the trunnions are arranged as close as is practicable to the breech end of? the gun with the result that the gun is not balanced about its trunnions, the weight of the portion in front of the trunnions preponderating considerably over the weight of the portion to the rear of the trunnions. To restore the balance it has been customary to employ balancing springs which however have not been found altogether satisfactory in practice and it is the chief object of this invention to enable these springs to be dispensed with.

In order that the said invention may he clearly understood and readily carried into eiiect the same will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying draw ings in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional side elevation and a rear elevation showing a form of our improvements.

A is the gun and A is the gun cradle which is trunnioned at A to the gun carriage in a position close to the breech end oi the gun. B. B are rearwardly extending arms on the cradle and B B are balance weights appertaining to these arms.

In the form of the invention shewn the rearwardly extending arms B, B are arranged one above and the other below the centre line of the gun and the balance weights B. B are carried by the rear portions of these arms which are suitably connected together at their rear ends. A free space exists between these balance weights for the easy manipulation of the) breech mechanism, for working the loading tray C, for the removal of the ejected cartridge cases and for the working of the rammer F which Specification of Letters Patent.

HIGH-ANGLE ORDNAJVCE.

Serial No. 510,655.

is of the air recuperator or hydraulic type and is carried by the upper one of the said weights. The ram 7' of this rammer works n a cylinder 7 which in the example shewn is supplied with fluid from a recuperator F mounted in a recess 1) in the upper one of the weights. The movements of the ram f are controlled by a valve operated by a handle f and the rammer is guided by means oi a guide bar B. The air recuperator E for the gun is mounted in a recess 5 in the lower one of the weights B, B. The arms B, B in this construction are built up ct plates andangle irons with a lar e cast iron or lead weight built into the real parts of each. These built up structures are attached to the short length of cradle A ar ranged about the trunnions and extend for ward of the t-runnions to the further small portion a of the cradle.

The gun to which the herein described improvements are particularly intended to be applied is one of medium or comparatively large calibre having a sliding or wedge breech block and employing fixed or case ammunition.

iVhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In high angle ordnance. the combination with the gun cradle, of two members extending rearwardly from said cradle, one

member being' arranged above and the other below the axis of the gun cradle and each of said members being weighted at its rear part.

in high angle ordnance. the combination with the gun cradle, of two members extending rearwardly from said cradle. one member being arranged above and the other below the axis of the gun cradle. and weights carried bv the rear parts of said members so as to leave a free space between them.

3. In high angle ordnance. the combination with the gun cradle. of two members extending rearwardly from said cradle one member being arranged above and the other below the axis of the gun cradle, weights carried by the rear parts oi said members so as to leave a free space between them and a loading tray mounted to move in said free space.

A RTF UR TREVOR D AWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM. 

